Tattoo artist denies attacking garda

A TATTOO artist has denied attacking and injuring a garda after he was allegedly challenged leaving a Dublin barber shop late at night wearing a balaclava.

Devin Singleton, 25, of Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan Fitzpatrick who is alleged to have suffered a fractured finger during an incident at Edenmore Avenue in Coolock on January 25th last.

He also denies charges of unlawfully possessing a small hatchet as a weapon and resisting arrest.

Dublin District Court heard, “it is alleged that on the night in question the defendant was leaving a barber shop wearing a balaclava”.

Garda Michael Gormley told the court that they were suspicious circumstances and when challenged by gardai the man allegedly reacted.

The injured garda suffered a “severe fracture to his finger” and was off work for six months, the court heard.

Judge Patricia McNamara was told it appeared the self-employed tattoo artist may have been been working out of the premises and the incident happened after midnight. It was alleged that after Mr Singleton reacted gardai used pepper-spray to arrest him.

The court was told that following his arrest he was searched and a small hatchet was found on him but he did not use it or try to use it during the incident.

Judge McNamara accepted jurisdiction and ordered that the 25-year-old man's district court trial will take place in October.